Arjun and Ashwati were the pride of their college—a pair admired for their brilliance in academics, sports, and the arts. Their friendship was envied by many; it was the kind that felt effortless, like a breeze on a warm spring day. While they stood side by side, their bond was far deeper than anyone could see. Arjun, with his quiet strength, had always admired Ashwati, but his admiration had slowly blossomed into something more profound—love. A love so deep that he kept it hidden, for fear that revealing it would shatter the delicate balance of their friendship.
Ashwati was the kind of beauty that reminded one of the changing seasons. Her eyes sparkled like the first light of dawn reflecting on a calm lake, and her laughter was the melody of wind through the trees. To Arjun, she was nature in its most divine form—untouched, raw, and breathtaking. Every moment with her felt like a stolen piece of heaven. He cherished the way she spoke, the way she moved, and the way she could make even the simplest things seem magical. But he never told her how he felt. He believed that sometimes, love was better unspoken, a silent prayer to the universe.
They spent countless evenings under the shade of an old banyan tree on campus, sharing dreams of the future, laughing about their days, and supporting each other through challenges. As they grew closer, Ashwati began to confide in Arjun about her dreams, her struggles, and her fears. She trusted him like no other, and their bond only deepened.
One day, as they sat under their banyan tree, Ashwati spoke of an opportunity—an opportunity to study abroad, something she had dreamed of for years. But there was a catch. Accepting it would mean leaving everything behind, including Arjun. She hesitated, torn between her dream and the life she had built.
Arjun, despite the ache in his heart, smiled at her. "You should go, Ashwati. You’ve always been destined for great things."
Her eyes searched his for a reason to stay, but all she found was his unwavering support. Little did she know that Arjun’s heart was breaking with every word, every second that passed where he encouraged her to chase her dream. His love for her was so pure that he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for hers.
And so, Ashwati left.
The day she boarded the plane was a day etched into Arjun’s memory like a scar. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, much like how he felt inside—beautiful yet melancholic. He watched her go, his unspoken love lingering in the air like a whisper lost in the wind. She looked back one last time and smiled. It was the same smile that could light up his world, but this time, it felt like goodbye.
Years passed. Ashwati’s letters were filled with stories of new experiences, new friends, and a new world. But Arjun’s heart had stayed frozen in the moment she left. He lived his days normally—working, studying—but his nights were haunted by the dreams of what could have been.
Then, one fateful day, Ashwati returned. She had grown even more beautiful, not just in appearance but in her spirit. The distance had given her wisdom, strength, and grace. Yet, something in her eyes spoke of loneliness. She sought out Arjun the moment she returned, and when they met under the same banyan tree, it felt like no time had passed at all.
But Arjun had changed. His feelings for her had only deepened over the years, but now, he could see the price of love. He knew that even though they were together again, life had taken them down different paths. As they sat in silence, the weight of their sacrifices hung between them like a veil.
Ashwati finally broke the silence. “I missed you, Arjun. There wasn’t a single day that passed where I didn’t think about you.”
“I missed you too,” Arjun replied softly, his heart aching.
He had longed to hear those words, but he knew they couldn’t go back to how things were. They had both sacrificed too much—their dreams, their time, their unspoken love. Ashwati had her life ahead of her, full of promise and adventure, and Arjun couldn’t bear to stand in her way.
In the quiet of that moment, Arjun decided to let her go once again. This time, not to a faraway land, but from the hope of a love that would never be. He smiled at her, a smile filled with love, pain, and acceptance.
“I’ll always be here for you, Ashwati. But some love stories are meant to stay unspoken.”
